Season's Toughest Game Is Rough To Call: Satellite, But Barely

The biggest high school football game so far this season is undefeated Melbourne at undefeated Satellite. You already knew that though, didn't you? You want to know who is going to win.

Please. Don't rush. This takes total concentration on a staggering amount of facts.

Both teams' running games are about equal. Melbourne is more explosive, but Satellite controls the ball better. Both can pass, but Melbourne's defense has an amazing 14 interceptions.

Satellite has played a tougher schedule and has the home-field advantage, but Melbourne wants to avenge an embarrassing 50-20 loss to Satellite last year.

With this knowledge the prediction goes from some vague guess to a precise prediction based on fact. . . . heads. . . . that means Satellite by 1.

MERRITT ISLAND (2-3) at EAU GALLIE (2-2): Whoever said winning isn't everything was right. Merritt Island lost to Bradenton Manatee, 24-20, last week and moved up in the Dunkel Index to become one of the top 10 Class AAAAA schools in the state. . . . Expect the Mustangs to fall out of the elite 10 with an ill-considered victory over Eau Gallie. . . . Merritt Island by 3.

SARASOTA (4-1) at VERO BEACH (4-1): Vero Beach doesn't lose twice in a row at home very often. Expect the Indians to knock the yachting caps and topsiders right off the Sarasota Sailors. . . . Vero Beach by 4.

LEESBURG (1-4) at TITUSVILLE ASTRONAUT (3-2): If you think Brevard schools have problems, look at Lake County. Leesburg has been reeling after having to forfeit an opening 21-0 victory over Candler Lake Weir because of five ineligible players. Since then the only team Leesburg has beaten was intracounty rival Eustis, whose coach has been suspended because of misconduct. . . . Astronaut by 10.

COCOA BEACH (2-2) at ORLANDO JONES (4-1): Speaking of Leesburg, here is what Coach Gene Foster had to say before losing, 33-7, two weeks ago to Jones with its 250-pound offensive line. ''We could borrow UCF's line and Jones still may be bigger. The best way to attack a line like that is with prayer.'' . . . Cocoa Beach may have a prayer, but it didn't do Leesburg any good. . . . Jones by 10 pounds.

ST. CLOUD (4-1) at ROCKLEDGE (2-2): Rockledge either wins or gets shut out. Rockledge should be able to score against St. Cloud. Therefore, Rockledge will win. See, this isn't that hard. . . . Rockledge by 3.

TITUSVILLE (1-4) at NEW SMYRNA BEACH (1-4): These teams have the same record? Looks like a misprint, but Titusville has a terribly difficult schedule. New Smyrna is just terrible. This is one of the few breaks the Terriers will get this year. Next week Astronaut but for now. . . . Titusville by 21.

ORLANDO HERITAGE PREP (0-3) at MELBOURNE FLORIDA AIR (2-2): Saturday afternoon special. . . . Florida Air is better at picking homecoming stiffs than the Florida Gators. Heritage Prep has been outscored 86-0 and merely is going to try to survive until next week's game with Orlando Luther, which has been outscored 244-0. That game should be more interesting. . . . Florida Air by 86.

MELBOURNE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (0-4) at VERO BEACH ST. EDWARDS (4-1): The Hustlers scored their first points last week and are on a roll. As a matter of fact the Hustlers will be trying to extend their consecutive-quarter scoring string, which stands at one. . . . Fun fact: St. Edwards plays woeful Luther Nov. 9. Running back Craig Stevens, who has scored 100 points this year, may add another 100 then. . . . St. Edwards by 24.

You probably want to know how the picks went last week. Can we forget about it just this once? No? Okay. Last week I was a pitiful 5-4. For the year I am 27-15 for a .643 success rate.